Chapter 15
Naoyuki stares at the digital clock, which now reads 3:45. Uncle and the people from the home are coming this afternoon, Naoyuki thinks. I can’t let Uncle have Mama’s address, or else I’ll never get to my parents’ house. But I can’t let them take me away, either. What should I do?
4 A.M. I’ll leave. I’ll find Mama and Papa myself. I guess...I’ll need the address,..a map,... food...
4:57. Should I go to school? No, I won’t have enough time between when school gets out and when they get here to pack up and leave.
The clock says 5:30 A.M. when Naoyuki finally climbs out of bed, wide awake. Snow falls heavily outside the window; when Naoyuki moves the curtains aside and looks out, he sees that the ground is already white. I should bring a scarf, too.
He kneels down and crawls under his bed, and feels around for the box of beads. His hand finally taps it and he pulls it out, then opens it up and takes out the picture with the address on the back. Naoyuki gropes around for the light switch; once he finally turns the light on, he changes out of his pajamas into a T-shirt and his baby blue jacket. He tucks the photo into his pocket, grabs the teddy bear that Haruko had given him and puts it in his hood, then switches the light back off and tiptoes out of his room and down the hall.
Naoyuki navigates his way down the stairs until he reaches the living room. He crosses to the front door and gropes for the closet door. He takes the handle and starts to pull it open, but it creaks loudly and he decides it is better to stop before he wakes his caretaker.
Here goes, Naoyuki thinks to himself. I’m sorry, Shizuyo-sensei. This is all I can think of. He puts his hand to the door handle, opens it, and steps out into the cold morning air. Naoyuki hugs himself for warmth as he starts down the sidewalk. I’ve got to...go to Kazu’s house first. I need a map. He shivers and tucks his photo further into his jacket pocket, then pulls his hands into his sleeves. I just hope I can talk to Kazu or his sister, and not his dad.
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Shizuyo finishes her morning tea and starts for the stairs. “Naoyuki!” she calls. “It’s time to get up for school!” She climbs the stairs and walks down the hallway to Naoyuki’s room. “Naoyuki!” she calls again. She steps into his room and flips the light switch. The bed is empty, and the covers are falling to the floor; his pajamas are balled up nearby. “Naoyuki?” Shizuyo calls again. She makes her way over to the table near his bed. The photo of him and his parents is nowhere to be found. “Oh no...”
Shizuyo rushes back downstairs. She stops in front of the door and sees it unlocked. Her eyes widen with panic. “He...Naoyuki ran away...” Shizuyo quickly throws on her coat and rushes out down the driveway. She sees a trail of fading footprints leading through the snow and begins following them down the sidewalk. “Naoyuki!” she calls worriedly. “Naoyuki, where are you?!” The trail comes to an abrupt end where the neighbors have begun to shovel their driveways and sidewalks. Shizuyo hurries back to her car, jumps in, and drives in the direction the footprints were leading. “Where could he have gone?” Shizuyo wonders aloud.
As she drives on, the footprints on the sidewalk disappear. Okay, calm down, Shizuyo; think straight, she tells herself. Kazu’s house is the only other place he could’ve run to on foot. Shizuyo drives on until she reaches the Seidos’ house. She parks in the driveway and steps up to the door as Mr. Seido is stalking out.
“Are you going to give up that sheet of paper or your stepson today?” Mr. Seido asks mockingly. “It’s up to you whether social services comes to pick him up this afternoon or not.”
“We don’t have the address anymore. We lost it,” Shizuyo snaps back. “Naoyuki’s been through enough already. Why can’t you just leave him alone?”
“I guess that’s that,” Mr. Seido says. “I’ll be seeing you this afternoon.” With that, he gets into his car and drives off.
Shizuyo rings the doorbell. Seconds later, Mrs. Seido steps out. “Hello,” she greets Shizuyo. “What brings you here this early in the morning?” Mrs. Seido waves her inside and says, “Come on and get out of the cold.”
Shizuyo sits down on one of the armchairs in the living room and waits as Mrs. Seido goes and prepares tea. “Would you like some?” she asks from the kitchen.
“No, thank you, I’ve already had my caffeine for the morning,” Shizuyo replies.
Kazunori hurries across the hallway when he catches sight of Shizuyo. “What brings you here? Isn’t Naoyuki supposed to be going to school with you?”
“That’s just it,” Shizuyo replies. “Kazu, is he here? Is Naoyuki here with you?”
Mrs. Seido steps out of the kitchen. “What do you mean?” she asks.
“Naoyuki’s run away,” Shizuyo answers. “I need to know if he found his way here. This is the only place he could’ve come on foot.” Her hopeful smile melts away as Kazunori and his mother exchange frowns.
“Ms. Matsuda,” Kazu replies slowly, “he isn’t here.”
